SWCC History and Purpose

The South Walton Community Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing the quality of life and unique natural environment in South Walton County in the Florida Panhandle. Founded in 1995, SWCC is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of residents, property owners, area employees, neighborhood associations, business owners and community leaders working together toward these goals.

Working Toward a #SustainableWalton since 1995!

SWCC developed when a core group of dedicated citizen leaders recognized a need for organized grassroots expression to make a difference in the community. The founding members of SWCC recognized in 1995 how preserving and protecting the unique coastal environment would enhance the quality of life for all those who call South Walton home.

Our General Purposes Include:

To provide citizen education and help develop neighborhood organizations dedicated to participatory democracy

To develop citizen leadership

To promote civic involvement by individuals and neighborhood groups

To preserve a high quality of life in Walton County, Florida

To secure reasonable implementation of laws related to land use planning, environmental preservation and growth management in Walton County

To encourage integrity and accountability in the governmental process

To provide and support community activities that showcase the extraordinary natural assets of Walton County and promote citizen involvement as well as advocacy in growth-management issues

To participate in the development, application, and enforcement of growth-management rules, policies and plans at all levels of Walton County government

To do all other acts and things and carry on and conduct all other activities necessary, suitable, convenient, useful and expedient in connection with or incremental to the accomplishment of any of the purposes set forth herein to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Florida and Walton County

To educate and raise awareness among the public, SWCC has:

Utilized communications with members and the community to share research, ideas, solutions, and issues requiring attention

Sponsored beach and road cleanup events

Served as a clearinghouse for information on local and regional organizations and efforts related to nature and the environment

Throughout our 20+ year history, SWCC has identified issues of importance to the quality of life of our members and area residents through participation with many Walton County boards, committees and like-minded organizations. Issues are also brought to the SWCC board for consideration by members and community residents for further research by our team.

To protect the quality of life in South Walton, SWCC has:

Conducted regular community forums

Communicated issues of concern or opportunity

Monitored growth and development policies

Collaborated with public and private organizations

Supported county and state agencies responsible for overseeing environmentally-sensitive and neighborhood-compatible development

Supported new growth management policies and comprehensive planning

Incubated efforts by our committee which grew to become A Better South Waltonto coordinate efforts for a feasibility study of self-government options for unincorporated communities

Served as a clearinghouse for information on county, regional and state boards, committees, and workshops related to growth, development, transportation, education, economic development and policy making

SWCC has continued to evolve as South Walton has continued to grow!

Our board forms a broad coalition of nonpartisan volunteers with great insight into an array of complex local topics while our executive director provides communications and management expertise. In recent years, we have evolved to include a professional executive director and administrative assistant to oversee daily operations such as communications, fund development, financial management and event planning. Our dedicated volunteer board of directors, however, retains ultimate oversight over policy decisions and financial oversight.

SWCC pulls from a long history of community involvement and knowledge to provide our members and the community with an invaluable source of information and collaboration.